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vTo be a voice, and to allow the voices of our community to be heard.v Dec. 1, 2011 W Vol. 1, No. 47
No one wants three tax-due properties By Jonathan Austin Yancey County News
Jonathan Austin/Yancey County News Winter arrived for parts of the county this week as a cold front pushed through after dumping a couple of inches of rain. Here snow covers trees and the Blue Ridge Parkway near Mount Mitchell.
County may open license tag office By Jonathan Austin
If Yancey County is going to have a license tag office, it is apparently up to county or Burnsville government to run it. County Manager Nathan Bennett told county commissioners Tuesday that the state had told him that none of the applicants who applied to operate the tag office
qualified, and that it was up to the local government to take the reins. Commissioners, who had been meeting Tuesday as the East Yancey Water and Sewer District board of directors, voiced desire to keep a tag office in the county even though they expect it might not be profitable. See page 5
What happens when the county tries to sell property for its unpaid back taxes, but no one shows up to buy it? That’s what happened recently with three parcels of land in Yancey, and now the county owns the property. But now county leaders must figure out how it can get the three parcels back on the tax rolls. On Oct. 17, county attorney Donny Laws, acting as commissioner, put up for sale a one-acre parcel off of Prices Creek Road, a lot in Sugar Mountain Estates, and a parcel of land in Jack’s Creek. When no bid was received meeting the minimum amount owed, the county took ownership of the property itself. “The county just takes it for what the county is owed,” said County Planner Jamie McMahan. North Carolina general statute gives counties and towns the authority to sell privately owned property for unpaid taxes. The sale is published and occurs at the courthouse door. The county was owed $2,724.25, for the Jack’s Creek property owned by John Leverock of Nooksville, Fla. It was owed $2,090.13, for lot 7, Sugarloaf Mountain Estates off U.S. 19W, by Associates Financial Services Co. It was owed $1,981.99 in
taxes for one acre located off Prices Creek Road by Arthur E. Felton of Altamonte Springs, Fla. This is the second time lot 7 in Sugarloaf Mountain Estates has sold at the courthouse door. Records show that it was sold at foreclosure for $5,801 in May 2001. According to state law, “A county, city, or other unit of local government may purchase real property at a judicial sale, an execution sale, or a sale made pursuant to a power of sale, to secure a debt due the county.” Now county leaders must approve a way that the property can be sold. According to state law, “real property purchased at a tax foreclosure sale” by the county “may be resold at any time (for such price as the governing body … may approve). “The county has no policy for getting rid of property” it acquired from tax foreclosure sales, McMahan said. Basically, county leaders just want to get the land back in private hands so it is back on the tax rolls, he said. He and County Manager Nathan Bennett said the county commission must approve procedures to have the land declared surplus so it can be sold. Other than the back taxes, the county also spent money to advertise the sale, which means the county is out that money until
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Your Schools
Superintendent Tony Tipton’s weekly report Planning for the Middle School Health Clinics: YCS and Health Clinic staff are meeting with the architectural representatives to complete the planning for the two middle school health clinic additions. School Calendar for 2012-2013: The committee is working on a draft for next school year. If you have any suggestions, please see a committee member. A final draft should be ready to present to the board at the December 5 board meeting. Update on Renewal Credits for Teachers and their Standard Professional 2 License: During the 2011 session, the General Assembly reduced the number of renewal credits required for a teacher to renew a Standard Professional 2 license from 15 to 7.5. At the August State Board Meeting, members requested a task force be created to consider options for renewal credits. Credit is no longer given for teaching experience.In addition, teachers who complete National Board Certification may earn the 7.5 credits. Those who are in the 10-year National Board renewal cycle may earn 2 credits (1 for content and 1 for literacy). Principals and assistant principals earn 3 credits focused on the school executives as instructional, human resources and managerial leader. The remaining 4.5 credits may be general credits. • The school accountability system at the heart of the No Child Left Behind Act, called “AYP” would be completely reinvented under a proposal released Tuesday by U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. November is Native American History Month: November is Native American History Month and public schools are encouraged to highlight the impact of Native Americans on North Carolina history. American Indian history is an integral part of North Carolina’s K-12 Social Studies curriculum. The elementary and middle school curriculum enables students to use historical skills, primary source documents, oral histories (folktales and legends) to study and explore diverse groups that have contributed to the development of North Carolina and the United States by beginning with the American Indians. In addition to U.S. History, high school students can take an American Indian Studies elective course to learn about their diverse history and culture in North Carolina.
Yancey students find local wonders
Amy Autrey’s fifth grade students at Clearmont Elementary visited the display of Gingerbread Houses at the Grove Park Inn and toured the historic Biltmore Estate in Asheville on November 22. The trip to the Biltmore House was part of the “Wonders of the World” project that began with students learning about and locating the Seven Wonders of the World on a map. Students also read the novel “Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs,” a book about a boy growing up in rural Missouri in the 1920s. The main character, Eben, receives a book about the Seven Wonders of the World from his teacher as a reward for having the best grades in geography. This book prompts his father to challenge him to find seven wonders in his own town in exchange for a train ticket to Colorado. Eben discovers that Sassafras Springs is actually a remarkable town filled with many treasures. Following the novel, it only made sense to end the unit by visiting two of North Carolina’s Wonders: The Grove Park Inn and The Biltmore Estate. The students really enjoyed the trip and they received compliments on their behavior
as they toured the largest private home in the United States. They learned about the history of the Biltmore House and how architects and landscape artists helped George
Vanderbilt realize his dream of a European chateau in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains.The home is a museum inside a home with artwork, including portraits by famous artists,
beautiful tapestries, and sculptures imported from around the world. It was a great opportunity for students to learn about the “Wonders in their Own Backyard.”
EVERY DAY, your neighbors are calling, writing or dropping in our office to plop down $25 to subscribe to the Yancey County News! Why? Because they say they’ve never had a newspaper like this in Yancey County, and they appreciate it! (And we appreciate them!) So if you want to subscribe, just fill out this form and mail it in! YES, begin my subscription to the Yancey County News! (Out-of-county subscription submit $35.) Mail this coupon and your check to: The Yancey County News, 132 W. Main St., Burnsville, NC 28714 NAME: _______________________________________ MAILING ADDRESS: ________________________________ _____________________________________________________ TOWN: _____________________________ STATE: ______ PHONE NUMBER: __________________________________ __
Dec. 1, 2011
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Opinion/Outlooks
Analysis: AG says voter ID law unconstitutional By Sarah Ovaska NC Policy Watch Attempts by the state legislature to pass local bills requiring voters in some, but not all, counties to produce photo identification at the polls would fail to meet the constitutional guarantee of equal protection, according to a recent analysis by the N.C. Attorney General’s Office. The state Department of Justice, in a Nov. 23 advisory letter sent to Gov. Bev Perdue’s office, indicated that a strategy by GOP leaders to circumvent Perdue’s June veto of a voter ID bill would run into constitutional issues. Having individual counties ask for more stringent identification rules would create an unconstitutional scenario where voters in some counties face more hurdles to vote than in other areas. “It is therefore our views that significant equal protection concerns would arise if voter identification requirements were established for some voters and not others based merely on their county of residence,” wrote Grayson Kelley, the chief deputy Attorney General, in the letter. He later added, “The enactment of local acts applying photo voter identification requirements in only certain counties would raise serious equal protection issues under both the United States Constitution and North Carolina Constitution.” In recent weeks, a handful of conservative county commissions (in Craven, Davidson, Gaston, Lincoln and Rowan counties) have passed resolutions requesting that the legislature allow the counties to require photo identification to vote. The legislature would then, during a special session, have to pass what’s called a “local bill” in order to grant those powers to those counties. Local bills are generally exempt from governor vetoes, and usually deal with issues specific to counties. But Kelley, in his letter, said that the courts would likely find that lawmakers don’t have the ability to push through piecemeal changes to voter identification requirements, and that state law calls for changes of that magnitude be made through an all-encompassing general bill, like the one that was vetoed by Perdue. Kelley also says in the letter that Perdue
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To be a voice, and to allow the voices of our community to be heard.
would necessarily be stripped of her ability to veto those local bills, because the larger voter registration issue had already been taken up by state lawmakers. Like much of what happened in this year’s legislative sessions, the push to require voters to show ID at the polls has broken down on partisan lines, with Republicans behind the additional requirements and Democrats voting against the proposal. The “Act to Restore Confidence in Government by Requiring that Voters Provide Photo Identification Before Voting” passed both the House and Senate in the spring, but failed to become law after Perdue vetoed it on June 23. House Republicans are a few votes short of overriding Perdue’s veto, and N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis told the News & Observer in June that a vote could come anytime he has enough votes lined up. “If seven Democrats don’t show up for a publicly announced session, that would be the easy way to override it,” he said in an interview, referring to the required three-fifths needed. According to Democracy NC, a good
government watchdog group, the push at the local level also broke down on partisan, as well as racial, sides, with 27 white Republicans county commissioners voting to ask for the voter identification rules in the five counties. Opposing the bills in the five counties were three Democrats, one white and two AfricanAmericans. During legislative debates, supporters of the bill said that requiring that voters show picture IDs would prevent voter fraud. But critics said the bill would do little to prevent the already minimal issue of voter fraud in the state, and amounts to voter suppression. It would create barriers to voting especially among the poor, African-Americans and elderly who may not have valid driver’s licenses or other photo identification, critics say. Nearly a half-million voters don’t have state-issued identification, according to an estimate by the N.C. State Board of Elections. NC Policy Watch is an independent project of the NC Justice Center, North Carolina’s leading private, nonprofit anti-poverty organization.
Ray Rapp’s Raleigh Report
Potential jobs in two WNC microbreweries and the tribal casino in Cherokee and rejection of the Racial Justice Act highlighted the just completed fourth “special session” of the General Assembly. The three-day session that began on Thanksgiving Sunday and concluded on Tuesday afternoon (November 29) cost taxpayers approximately $150,000 and accomplished little from a policy standpoint. Each day’s calendar listed “Reconsideration of Vetoed Bills” including HB 7 “Community Colleges/Opt Out of Federal (Student) Loan Program;” HB 351, “Restore Confidence in Government” (Voter ID); HB 482, “Water Supply/Water Violation Waivers;” SB 709 “Energy Jobs Act (to allow shale gas extraction know as “fracking”) and Senator Ralph Hise’s SB 727, “No Dues Checkoff for School Employees.” None of these votes was taken and we limped out of Raleigh with the Raleigh News and Observer asking, tongue in cheek, if the GOP leadership had called the session because it “missed the fried squash in the Legislative Cafeteria?” In his post-mini-session press conference, House Speaker Thom Tillis argued, and I agree, that the Legislature’s passage of HB 796, “Breweries, Community College/Supplemental Fund. Clarified” was “a wise use of time.” At least it was for Western North Carolina. Prior to the session, the bill’s lead sponsor, Rep. Tim Moffitt of Asheville, contacted me to review the provision giving high school students 16 and older permission to take noncredit classes at community colleges. I appreciated his thoughtful approach to the community college provision in the legislation and was glad to provide input. The bill also allows the Cherokee County Schools to receive an extra year’s funding from the Small County Supplemental Fund and it authorizes— the heart of the bill—NC’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission to permit the sale of malt beverages that have been manufactured by large producers at out of state locations or at local breweries (reportedly to be in Asheville and/or Hendersonville). This clears the way for New Belgium Brewing of Fort Collins, Colorado and Sierra Nevada of Chico, California to expand into WNC. If they were to grow their operations in the region, the two breweries could generate as many as 300 new jobs.
The Senate overturned the two-year old “Racial Justice Act” on Monday by passing SB 9, a bill entitled “No Discriminatory Purpose in the Death Penalty.” On a 27 to 17 vote along party lines, the Senate passed the measure to repeal the 2009 law that allowed sentences (not convictions) to be reviewed to determine if, using statistical evidence, racial prejudice were a factor in the decision to impose the death penalty. Governor Perdue is expected to veto the bill and the Legislature could be called into special session in early January to consider overriding the veto. Gov. Beverly Perdue and Principal Chief Michell Hicks announced on Monday, November 28 agreement on a new compact that would allow live gambling at the tribe’s Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and on the trust lands held by the Eastern Band in Cherokee, Swain, Jackson, Graham and Haywood Counties. (It is unlikely that there would be live gaming on the Haywood property because of the remoteness of the land.) The 30-page, 30 year compact was forwarded to the leadership of the General Assembly on Monday and later in the day to interested members such as myself, but there was not adequate time to review the proposal before adjournment on Tuesday. The proposed compact would guarantee to the tribe exclusive rights to live table games West of Interstate 26 (as opposed to west of I-95 as originally sought) and it would give the state a percentage from these games beginning at 4% the first year and increasing 1% every five years until it reaches 8%. The amount that goes to the state—estimated at $2 to $4 million per year—would go directly to education and the State’s 1.4 million children in grades K to 12. Tribal leaders estimate that 400 jobs would be created by adding the live table gaming but I remain opposed to the compact because of potential expansion beyond the casino to surrounding counties in WNC. Among the several items taken up by the House this week were HB 645, “Motor Fuel Excise Tax Adjustment and Studies” to cap the gas and diesel fuel tax, scheduled to go up on January 1, at its current rate of 35 cents per gallon. The cap, which I supported, would have lasted for 6 months while a study was conducted to determine alternative ways to fund NC’s transportation needs. The bill passed the House by a wide margin—96 to 23.
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Obituaries Gladys Buckner
Gladys M. Buckner, 83, of Pleasant Valley Road, died Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011, at her home. She was the daughter of the late Horace and Pearl Waldrop Buckner, and the wife of William Riley Buckner who passed away in September 2009. Gladys was also preceded in death by her son: Steven Buckner; grandson: Billy Buckner; sisters: Betty Buckner and Louise Radcliff; and, brother: Gene Buckner. Surviving are her son: William S. Buckner and wife, Delane; daughters: Joan Souther and husband, Steven, Janet Deitz and husband, Doug, and Vickie Thomas, all of Burnsville; brothers: David Buckner of Leicester, James A. Buckner of Nesbitt, MS and Benny Buckner of Oteen; 10 grandchildren: Alicia, Melissa, Angela, Devan, Jackie, Jessie, Heather, Justin, Jewel and Dakota; and, 8 great grandchildren: Jordan, Julia, Hallie, Jasmine, Nic, Anna Grace, Payton and Trysten. Funeral service was Saturday in Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, of which she was a member.
er 23, 2011
Carl Young
Carl Young, 87, died Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, at his home on Shoal Creek. He was born on April 8, 1924, on a farm at Shoal Creek in the mountains of Yancey County, North Carolina, where his father, Will Young, was a farmer and his mother, Laura Belle Hyatt Young, was a homemaker. The youngest of twelve Young children, Carl spent his childhood playing on the family farm. At age 20, he enlisted in the Army and he fought during World War II with the 12th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry
Division in the European Theater. Carl was a recipient of a Purple Heart after being wounded in Rothenburg, Germany. Upon his return to Yancey County, he married Lillian Buchanan Young and they had two daughters, Laura Gwen and Sharon Lee. Carl was a mica miner, store owner, long-distance truck driver, heavy equipment operator, tire recapper, Pet Milk truck driver, and a builder of many roads throughout the area. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, NASCAR racing, playing poker and watching sports. His life was filled with family and friends, who laughed often with him. Carl was preceded in death by his parents Will and Laura Belle Hyatt Young; sisters: Elizabeth Huskins, Sarah Allen, Mabel Letterman, Grace Wright, Belle Griffith and Mamie Young; brothers: Terrill, Jim, Grady, Jess and Horace Young; and former wife: Lillian Buchanan Young. He is survived by his partner and best friend, Kaye Greene; two children: Laura Gwen Young Stetzler and husband, Ray, of Beavercreek, Ohio and Sharon Lee Young Scott of South Boston, Virginia; three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A graveside service was held with military graverites conducted by Sgt. E. L. Randolph Chapter 57, DAV. A memorial service was Wednesday. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.
Holcombe Brothers Funeral Cemetery. Home is assisting the McCurry family. Callie Silver Gortney Callie Silver Gortney, 91, of Burnsville, died Saturday, Kelton E. Geouge Kelton E. Geouge, 76, Nov. 26, 2011, at her home. of the Celo Community, A native of Yancey County, died Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, she was a daughter of the late at his home. A native of Shelby and Martha Silver. Yancey County, he was a She was also preceded in son of the late John K. and death by an infant daughter, Foy Whetstine Geouge. He Christine Gortney; an infant was also preceded in death son, Billy Ray Gortney; by a brother, Johnny Keith brother, Dee Silver; sisters: Geouge. Kelton was a U. S. Nola Silver, Eva Wilson and Army Veteran and a retired Carrie Hess and a greatgrandson Joshua Acuff. Callie crane operator. Surviving are his wife of 55 was a homemaker, a faithful, years, Wilma Strong Geouge; lifelong member of Crabtree a son: Greg Geouge and Baptist Church and loving wife, Lana, of Mobile, Ala.; wife of 68 years to Oscar 2 granddaughters: Samantha Gortney. Surviving in addition to her Geouge and Gabrelle Geouge; 2 step-grandchildren and 5 husband are her two daughters: step-great-grandchildren all Ellen Anglin and husband, Jim and Janice Howell all of Roxboro. A memorial service was of Burnsville; sisters: Evie Thursday in Browns Creek McCurry and husband, R.D., Baptist Church. The Rev. of Marion and Barbara Fox of Burnsville; brothers: Donald Davis officiated. Daniel Silver of Burnsville, Taylor Grace Lunsford David Silver of Marion Taylor Grace Lunsford, and Gail Silver and wife, infant daughter of Bobby Emma Jean, of Burnsville; and Melissa Hicks Lunsford, five grandchildren: Maurice died Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011, Anglin, Pat Anglin and at Mission Hospital. She wife, Kelly, Tammy Austin was preceded in death by and husband, John, Bill grandparents: Taylor Hicks Howell and wife, Michelle and Choise, Jr. and Della Mae and Brian Howell and wife, Angie; great-grandchildren: Buchanan Lunsford. Surviving in addition to Cassandra Garland, Gracie, her parents are her half- Dillion, Marshall, Lane and sisters: Bonnie Angelica and Aubry Anglin, Andrew, Lucie Marjorie Lunsford; Matthew, Mason and Katie grandmother, Joann Hicks. Austin, Daniel, Nathan, Luke Many aunts, uncles and and Adam Howell. Funeral was Monday wiht cousins also survive. F u n e r a l s e r v i c e w a s the Rev. Rick Bennett and Monday, The Rev. Rodney Rev. Joe Bennett officiating. Milsap officiated. Burial Burial was in the Crabtree followed in the Buchanan Baptist Church Cemetery.
Ivan McCurry
ADVERTISEMENT
Ivan McCurry, 86, of the Mine Fork Community, died Saturday, Nov. 26, 201, at his home. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the late Mal and Belle Edwards McCurry and the husband of Florence Laws McCurry who died in 1995. He was also preceded in death by an infant son: Lyda McCurry; a sister: Fern Tipton and brothers: Carl, Glenn, Grant, Paul, Sam and Geroge McCurry. Ivan was a World War II Army veteran. Surviving are his daughter: Violet McCurry of Burnsville and several nieces and nephews. Burial was in the Mal McCurry Family Cemetery. In honoring his request, no services are planned.
Attention All Retired State Employees Retired State employees with Medicare can save $100's by enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan that coordinates with your current Blue Cross Blue Shield plan. According to Jerry Scarborough, a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage representative, your primary care copay is reduced from $30 to $20, specialist reduced from $70 to $45, emergency room reduced from $233 copay plus 20% coinsurance after a $700 deductible to an incredible $65 . . . and the list of savings goes on. And best of all the premium is $0. How can UnitedHealthcare offer a $0 premium? When you enroll in a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan, the federal government pays
UnitedHealthcare a set amount of money to provide your benefits. As one of the largest providers of Medicare coverage, they have the plans, provider partnership and wellness programs in place to keep costs down. So they can offer more benefits than original Medicare for a $0 monthly premium beyond what you pay for Part B. But time is running out to enroll for 2012 . . . there's only 2 weeks left to enroll . . . till Dec. 7. Scarborough will be available to answer questions and enroll at The Prescription Pad, 730 East Main Street, Burnsville, Monday - Friday 9 - 1 or by appointment. Come by or call 208-2562.
Dec. 1, 2011
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County may open tag office, Bennett says
From the front Bennett said he has surveyed other counties that operate tag offices, and he said few if any make money on the proposition. Being a small county means the office could gross maybe $50,000 a year, he said, and that must cover two salaries and overhead expenses. He said the county could see less outlay if it put the tag office in an existing county
building; the courthouse or the old library annex, for example. Chairman Johnny Riddle and Commissioner Marvin Holland pointed out that not having a tag office in town would be a disservice for residents, who would have to travel out of county to take care of their vehicle tags. That would require residents taking as much as half a day off from work. An unintended consequence could
also be that the residents could end up shopping while they were out of the county, hurting local merchants and cutting into county sales tax revenue. And would the town be interested in running the office? “The town actually debated whether or not they would be interested in it, and at that time said no,” said Mayor Danny McIntosh.
“I really wish there was a good applicant willing to do it,” he said, to create private sector jobs, but if the county has to run the office,” it would be fine with me.” Bennett admitted that putting the tag office in the courthouse could be problematic for some residents because they would have to go through the metal detector at the front door in order to renew or purchase license tags.
Pictured are students in MCC’s Industrial Electrical Maintenance class held this fall. Sixteen electricians and maintenance staff from Altec Industries, PRC Industries, BRP Inc., Hickory Springs Manufacturing, and New Buck Corporation participated in the training. Pictured from left to right on the front row are Darren Duncan, Mark Huskins, and Andrew Dugger. On the back row are Ben Ray, Andy Miller, and Mike Andrea.
Training program puts people into critical regional businesses The Customized Training Program (CTP) provides training and services for new, expanding and existing business and industry in North Carolina. The state pioneered Customized Training fifty years ago and is consistently recognized as having one of the most effective training programs in the nation. The decision of a business or industry to locate, expand, or remain in NC is influenced by the presence of a well-trained workforce. The CTP was developed in response to this need. An example of this successful partnership
was an Industrial Electrical Maintenance class held this fall. Sixteen electricians and maintenance staff from Altec Industries, PRC Industries, BRP Inc., Hickory Springs Manufacturing, and New Buck Corporation participated in the training. Unlike standard residential electrical courses, this class provided instruction on industrial electronics and electrical systems. As a result, students were given the skills to better perform their jobs and make the factory operate more efficiently. The CTP is designed to react quickly to the
needs of businesses and respect the confidential nature of information within those businesses. Through the CTP, Mayland Community College provides services including job profiling, assessment, and pre-employment training. Post-hire, technical and “soft” skills training are also offered at no cost to the company. CTP does what is needed to assist companies in locating or expanding operations in the Mitchell, Avery, and Yancey County areas, and prepares the workforce with skills essential for successful employment in industry.
Mars Hill College Christmas Concert set for 7 p.m. this Saturday Experience the beautiful sounds of the Christmas season at the annual Mars Hill College Christmas Concert, Friday, Dec.2 at 7:30 pm in Moore Auditorium. The concert will feature the Mars Hill College Wind Symphony, conducted by Mr. Michael Robinson; and the College Choir and Chamber Singers, conducted by Dr. Joel Reed. The event is open to the public and free of charge. For more information call 828.689.1209
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Dec. 1, 2011
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UARA Racing
Top ten includes youngster in rookie year By Kassie Hughes Sixteen-year-old Joey Herques joined the UARA-STARS with little driving experience and managed to pull off an eight place position in the 2011 Championship Points. It all started for Herques when he and his dad were racing go karts around the house just a few years back. He went from go karts to legends, and from legends to limiteds within the past four years. Herques ran his first full year with the UARA-STARS and counts it as a success. “All in all we didn’t do to too bad for finishing eighth. I’ve realized that whenever you start off something new, it’s going to be a struggle. We were looking forward to the year being a learning step,” says young Herques. “Looking back on the year, finishing eighth with the kind of year we had, not finishing races and blowing a motor, we actually did pretty well. I would consider this year a win for us because we made it through and finished in the top ten in points.” Although Herques is still looking to clinch that first UARA win, he won numerous awards throughout the season. His first award of the season was during his first visit to Rockingham Speedway. He won the Holley Performer award for gaining eight positions throughout the race. His 8th place finish also earned him Pro-Fabrication 8th place award. Other awards included DJ Safety 9th place at Lonesome Pine, and ARBodies Hard Luck Award during his series’ second visit to Newport. To finish off the year, Herques won WP Racing Shocks 11th place award at series closer at Rockingham. With such a short racing career, Herques had a lot of opportunities to learn and try new things. “Qualifying on stickers and the length of the races was something we had to get used to. The only time I’ve ever qualified before was when I ran limiteds on scuffed
tires,” rookie Herques learned. “Running 150 laps was also a stretch for us. I was only used to running 50 laps, and occasionally the longest being 80 or 100 laps.” Turning the page into a new season, Herques would not have had such a successful rookie year without a couple of people to thank. “I definitely need to thank my dad for all the sacrifices he makes so that I could be here and race. I also wanted to say a big thanks to my whole team. My guys did a great job this year, fixing everything and getting things ready for the next race.” Now with the experience of a late model, Herques is looking to get more experience through other series while also running with UARA-STARS for the 2012 season. “So far plans of next year look like doing some ARCA runs, on the tracks that I can next year (tracks without an 18-year-old age limit) and to fill in the gaps with UARA races.
Do you go all out decorating your home and property for Christmas? Take photos and send them to the Yancey County News! We’ll run the best photos, and you get all the bragging rights!
Email them to jonathan@yanceycountynews.com
Dec. 1, 2011
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TRAC welcomes eight new artists to Studio Tour The Toe River Arts Council (TRAC) welcomes eight new artists to its December Studio Tour, which runs Dec. 2 to 4. The eight new artists/studios join over one hundred others on TRAC’s self-guided driving tour. Tour hours are: Friday, Dec. 2, from 12-4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend an artist reception and exhibition at TRAC’s Spruce Pine Gallery at 269 Oak Avenue on Friday, Dec. 2, from 5-7 p.m. TRAC’s new Tour Guide booklets can be picked up at the Spruce Pine Gallery or at the Burnsville Gallery, located at 102 W. Main St. Guides contain maps and directions, color images of artists’ work, and contact information. Keeping eyes peeled for arrowed roadside tour signs, visitors can pull in and watch artists at work in their studios, purchase art work, and discover out-of-theway scenic wonders in the mountains. Both TRAC galleries are open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. where staff offer assistance with tour itineraries. Garold Amsberry began working in clay in the late 1980s. At his Midnight Sun Pottery he produces one-of-a-kind functional and decorative pieces, firing at cone-6 electric. He creates raku mugs, bowls, and platters in a variety of styles. “My style,” he says, “covers a lot of styles. I go full gamut.” Currently he is experimenting with color slip design, especially spray-on glazes. The palette remains the same but the application process significantly changes the results. Glass artist Jonathan Lee Biller has moved back to WNC from Memphis, Tenn., with his Purple Cat Glass Company. Primarily he fashions glass ornaments but he also
creates blown and solid glass works. His production line includes tumblers and glasses, mostly functional ware which he decorates with drawings and paintings. He explains, “Glass-blowing is a dance that involves body movement in conjunction with gravity and heat. I’m fascinated by its ever-changing, ever evolving brilliance.” “New beginnings” is how Spruce Pine potter Anita Blackwell describes her art which integrates art into daily life. Anita describes herself as a non-functional, spiritual potter, creating “Puffy Prayer Pots,” personal altars, and round raku spirit jars. Her technique has moved from the wheel to hand building. Of herself she says, “I hope to express the collective feeling of relatedness to nature, bringing forth a sense of magic and possibility into our technological age.” Photographer Steve Buettner got started in a Colorado architect’s office taking pictures of buildings. Barns and churches in the Toe River area still capture his imagination. These days he’s moving more into black and white imagery because of its tonality, and he is also exploring new ways in which to display photography such as the hand-made book. He loves capturing various street scenes and visits downtown Asheville and Burnsville and other locations for impromptu shots. J.R. and Kristen Page believe in “Turning mud to stone” at their Page Pottery. This husband and wife team, for whom “pottery is a way of life,” offers a wide range of functional and decorative ware. In the decorative line they make one-of-a-kind masks, vases, and ceramic sculpture. Their functional ware such as stoneware bowls for the kitchen and decorative soap dishes for the bathroom can all claim to embody the spirit of the Pages
themselves. J.R. explains that they are constantly experimenting with types of firings, with the “engineering aspects” of their kitchen ware which they test by preparing dishes from produce grown in their garden. Another artist couple, Peter and Rita Steidle (Map 3) make traditional and contemporary braided rugs, for over 200 years a staple furnishing in American homes. At their Braided Art studio in Buladean they produce braided area rugs that can be color-coordinated with other furnishings made by the couple such as chair pads, placemats, and table runners. Their line of fruit rugs includes shapes such as apples and pumpkins while their flower designs feature sunflowers and daisies. Having been trained in metal-smithing, repousse, and chasing techniques, Jane Willig offers forged and hand-wrought sterling silver and 14-karat gold-filled wire jewelry (mostly earrings). Her surface-textured copper Christmas ornaments display her flair for intricate design. Furniture-maker Luke Woods uses mostly local hardwoods such as walnut, curly maple, and cherry in his solid wood furniture. His interest is in making 18th Century-type “period furniture” such as a recent Queen Anne huntboard of curly maple. He is drawn to Colonial models from the late 1700s to the early 1800s. Mr. Woods tends to produce smaller, lighter pieces such as tea-tables using wide boards and period-type brasses. “I hope the furniture I make will be antiques someday,” he states, adding, “it ought to last two to three hundred years if they take care of it.” For more information on the TRAC December Studio Tour call (828) 682-7215 or 765-0520, or click toeriverarts.org.
Participating Artist Map Website Garold Amsberry E Stanley Mace Andersen 1 roanpotters.com Paul Anthony/Tim Jaqua 2 anthonystoneware.com Carol W. Bailey 3 Lynda Gayle Banner E littleblackberrycreekpottery.com Barking Spider Pottery 4 barkingspiderpottery.com Rick/Valerie Beck 5 William/Katherine Bernstein 6 bernsteinglass.com Yvonne Bessin 7 Jonathan Lee Biller 8 Lisa Blackburn 9 Anita Blackwell 10 Blue Ridge Soap Shed 11 soapshed.com Pam Brewer 12 pambrewer.com Cynthia Bringle 12 cynthiabringlepottery.com Edwina Bringle 12 John Britt 13 JJ Brown 14 fyreglas.com Larry Brown E thelarrybrownstudio.com Thor Bueno 15 buenoglass.com Steve Buettner 19 sbphotosite.com Marilyn Cade 16 mountainfarm.net Melisa Cadell 17 roanpotters.com Jim Charneski 26 charneskimetals.com Lisa Clague 18 lisaclague.net Claudia Dunaway 19 yummymudpuddle.com EnergyXchange 20 energyxchange.org John Faulkner 21 johnfaulknerdesign.com Sarah Faulkner 21 sarahfaulkner.com Susan Feagin 12 Ruth Fischer 43 justbeeclayart.com Loretta Forde 22 John J. Geci 23 jgeciglass.com Terry Gess 24 terrygesspottery.com Becky Gray 25 bgrayclay.com Carmen Grier 24 carmengrier.com Judson Guerard 26 guerardglass.com
Jay Haynes 27 blueheavenwoodworks.com Rolf Eric Holmquist 28 rolfholmquist.com Kathryn House 29 Lucas House 29 ironhouseforge.com Sarah House 29 skhpottery.com Lisa Joerling 30 lisajoerling.com Nick Joerling 30 penlandpottery.com Barbara Kahn 14 Michael Kline 31 michaelklinepottery.blogspot.com Cathy/David Krafcik 32 wildlifeartglass.com Abigail H. Kramer E Judy Lane 33 Stacey Lane 31 staceylane.com Rob Levin 34 robertlevin.com Polly Lorien/Miles Dreyer 40 thepeoplesglass.com Kathryn Lynch 19 jacksbrat.etsy.com Shaunna Lyons 48 shaunnalyonspottery.blogspot.com Nanci Mansfield 22 Courtney Martin 23 courtneymartinpottery.com Linda McFarling 45 lindamcfarlingpottery.com Lynn McLure 9 Shane Mickey 35 roanpotters.com Jacquelyn Murray 36 Lilith Nielander 37 J.R./Kristen Page 38 pagepottery.com Jane Peiser 39 janepeiserpottery.com Erin Peters 31 bulabags.com Kenny Pieper 40 pieperglass.com John D. Richards 19 yummymudpuddle.com Simona Rosasco 14 fyreglas.com David Ross 41 snowcreekpottery.com Nancy Roth 42 Michael Rutkowsky 43 pondbranchpottery.com Constance Schulze 17 csjewelrydesigns.com Ken Sedberry 44 sedberrypottery.com Selena Glass and Metal 45 selenaglassandmetal.com Linda J. Sharpless 46 Jenny Lou Sherburne 47 jennylouclayart.com Laura Sims 26 indigostonestudio.com
Charlie Smith 2 Gertrude Graham Smith 48 gertrudegrahamsmith.com Peter/Rita Steidle 49 braidedart.com Kathy Steinsberger 12 Billie Ruth Sudduth 50 brsbasket.com Doug Sudduth 50 dougsudduth.com Liz Zlot Summerfield51 lzspottery.com Scott Summerfield 51 scottsummerfieldglass.com Raven Tata 45 cosimoscollection.com Yaffa/Jeff Todd 52 Kathleen Turczyn 42 Tria Turrou 53 triaturroustudios.com Tzadi Turrou 53 chestnutmtcabin.com Amy Waller 54 amywallerpottery.com Jann V. Welch 55 artscentered.com Elizabeth Westveer E silverwingstudio.com Sherrill Whitson 56 Mike Williams 28 mikeswoodshop.com Jane Brown Willig 42 Matt Willig 29 mattwilligdesigns.com David Wilson 22 Luke Woods 57 Kay Workman 43 worksbyworkman.com Steve Workman 43 worksbyworkman.com Participating Galleries
List of participating artists and galleries
Burnsville TRAC Gallery Crimson Laurel Gallery Energyxchange Fork Mountain Studio & Gallery One of a Kind Art Gallery Penland Gallery Spruce Pine TRAC Gallery The Design Gallery
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An update
from your very own new and locally owned pharmacy ...
We want to say thank you to the community
for all of the support you have given us during our first five months of operation. We continue to welcome new customers and to serve our existing customers with great care. We appreciate our corporate neighbor recognizing The Prescription Pad for making a difference in our community through lower drug prices. Give us a chance to earn your business and we will do everything in our power to make sure your experience is different than what you’ve become accustomed to. Customer service is paramount at The Prescription Pad of Burnsville. We’re committed to making a difference in our community and are looking forward to being able to announce some exciting new programs we have planned for the near future. We will have additional giveaways during the upcoming holiday season. Please stop by to see what we’re giving away and register to win. They will make great Christmas gifts.
The Prescription Pad of Burnsville
It’s that time of year again, and Burger King in Burnsville is celebrating the season for giving with the Angel Tree for Seniors. Customers and residents are invited to take an angel from the tree in the restaurant and give the gift of love to a senior for Christmas. “Thank you from our Family at Burger King, and happy holidays!” said Brenda Sparks of Burger King. She said gifts should be brought to the Burger King store in Burnsville, and they will be given to senior citizens in the community.
FFA in state gets big grant The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission has awarded $180,540 to the North Carolina FFA to improve high school agricultural education programs throughout the state. The new Agricultural Education Program Improvement Grant, which receives exclusive support from the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, aims to provide much-needed resources to local agricultural education programs and FFA chapters in high schools. “This grant will enable our teachers to invest resources in a number of critical areas, from equipment and facilities to new course development,” said state agricultural education leader Joshua Bledsoe. “We are extremely grateful to the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission for sharing our vision and making possible tremendous opportunities for students throughout the state.” The North Carolina FFA, housed in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at N.C. State University, will distribute the gift in at least 32 grants in the amount of $5,000 each. Remaining funds will be used to administer the grant. Any high school in North Carolina with an agricultural education program is eligible to apply. Award winners will be announced in spring 2012. “We’re excited to be a partner with the FFA,” said William Upchurch, executive director of the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. “This is a great opportunity for students and teachers to feature innovative and creative projects designed to strengthen agricultural education. These students represent the future of agriculture in North Carolina.” The North Carolina FFA is a youth organization of more than 18,600 student members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture, with nearly 250 local chapters across the state. FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Visit http:// ncffa. org for more information.
Open 8-8 weekdays, 8-5 Saturday, 10-3 Sunday
730 E. Main St, Burnsville •678-3914 •fax 678-3945 Fans of former Mountain Heritage High School varsity basketball standout John Cannon may be wondering how he is doing as a freshman with the University of Georgia basketball team. His mother says he is doing well and working hard in the weight room. She says it’s a surprise to see how big he is on television. The Dawgs have a great season going and to the right is the schedule for the remainder of the season. All of the games are televised, though some of the stations may be Georgia specific. Coming up this weekend is a big game against Cincinnati on ESPNU, and a intra-state rivalry takes place Dec. 7 at home against Georgia Tech. The Dawgs went to the big dance last year, and we all hope John gets the chance to block a few shots on the way to a stellar season.
Dec. 1, 2011
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Regional dancers ready seasonal ‘Nutcracker’ More than 90 dancers from Yancey, Mitchell, and Avery counties will participate this weekend in the production of “The Nutcracker” in Burnsville. “The Nutcracker” is the timeless holiday tale of how a young girl’s dream can create a spell and bring a fantastic world of dancing to life. The ballet, which premiered in 1892, is one of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s most memorable compositions. Critics say his Russian Dance is one of the most recognizable pieces in the ballet, along with the famous Waltz of the Flowers and March, and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Artistic director Beverly D. Shurley said all dancers have worked hard on their roles to bring the show to the local stage. Many area high school students will perform in this year’s production. Emma Hamlyn will dance the starring role of Clara, and Luke Hamlyn will portray her cantankerous brother, Fritz. Dale Russ and Jessica Hollifield will dance the roles of the Arabian dancers. Amelia Wilson has the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy, accompanied by Dale Russ as her Cavalier. Peyton Yearick performs as the Snow Prince; Tenille Dellinger is featured as the Snow Queen. Myra McCoury leads the Waltz of the Flowers as the Dew Drop Fairy. Other young dancers from the area will perform the roles of Bon-Bons, Angels, Mice, Party Guests, Les Petites Fleurs, Cooks, Soldiers, Snowflakes and Flowers. Featured adults include Rob Storrs, as Clara’s mysterious godfather, Dr. Drosselmeyer, Alesa Bryant-Laws as Clara’s Mother, and Barbara King-Stagg as the Parlor Maid and Mother Ginger.
This year’s performances will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4 at B. M. Tomberlin Auditorium, Mountain Heritage High School in Burnsville. Tickets are now available for purchase at the TRAC offices in Spruce Pine and Burnsville. Tickets prices are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors (65+) and students (12 and up), and $5 for children (3 – 11). The event is produced by High Country Youth Ballet, Inc., a local non-profit formed
to foster an appreciation for dance, music and other performing arts in and around the High Country. Organizers say the High Country Youth Ballet’s holiday tradition is for all audiences – the young and the young at heart. It is a spellbinding spectacle filled with glamorous special effects, costumes and exciting dancing! For more information, visit High Country Youth Ballet on Facebook or online at sprucepinedancecenter.com.
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Outdoors
Beware dangers in hunting
Several years ago, a man was heading out for a week of scouting and hunting. We will call him Mr. Smith. His plan was to scout some farm land in the Triad area of North Carolina during the weekend and then meet his buddies in Eastern North Carolina to hunt deer during the week. Mr. Smith told his wife where he would be and when he would return. Mr. Smith stopped at a local gas station to fill up his truck shortly after leaving the house. An insurance agent was also purchasing fuel and noticed Mr. Smith was in camouflage and packed. The agent inquired about whether Mr. Smith owned or leased his hunting land, and spoke briefly about some insurance products they may interest him and his hunting partners. The agent left a handful of business cards with Mr. Smith as they parted ways. After paying for the gasoline and a soda for the road, Mr. Smith started thinking, “You know, Eastern deer season is already in, and I can scout up here next weekend.” This would allow Mr. Smith a couple of extra days of hunting before his buddies ever arrived at camp. That Friday afternoon, Mr. Smith pulled up to the hunting cabin, quickly unloaded his stuff, and made a hurried track into the woods. He spotted a nice straight tree overlooking a natural trail and fastened his stand. After climbing up to the stand, he began to clip some limbs that would be in the way of making a clear shot. There was one rather long limb from another tree nearby that Mr. Smith believed he could reach. Stretching as far as he could, he grasped the end of the limb and pulled it toward him. Once he had it pulled as close to his stand as he could he reached out with his other hand and clipped it as far away from his stand as he could. Picture someone playing tug of war and the other person suddenly letting go. Mr. Smith lost his balance and tumbled over the backside of the stand. Mr. Smith awoke later, unable to move and in severe pain. Up in the stand was his backpack and rifle. Inside the pack were his cell phone, food, and water. He looked down to his leg, and saw an iron property spike protruding through his shin. When he tried to pull his leg off, he passed out from the pain. Mr. Smith continued this same scenario several times through darkness and light. He saw a couple of deer, squirrels, even a rabbit while he lay there helpless. He knew he was in big trouble due to the amount of blood he had lost. At one point a beagle woke him while licking his face and wound. Mr. Smith brushed the dog away in frustration. Certain he was going to die in that spot, Mr. Smith found the business cards he was given at the gas station in his pocket and began writing his last will on the back. He also found several orange clothes pins he was using to mark his trail in the other pocket. An idea came to Mr. Smith.
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After much calling, the beagle once again returned. Knowing the beagle belonged to someone, Mr. Smith did his best at drawing a map of where he was in the woods, added his wife’s phone number, and the words ‘injured – help’ on the business cards and pinned them to the collar of the beagle. He then shooed the dog off again. A minister was returning from church service that Sunday evening when he found several orange pins and a single business card attached to his frisky pup. Within the hour, rescue personnel had located Mr. Smith, badly injured and dehydrated. I tell this story often in the hunter education classes. Two things of importance are taught. One, stick with your plan unless you let someone know the plan has changed. Second, wear a safety harness whenever you are using a tree stand. Mr. Smith now teaches hunters the importance of both, as well as how to tie different types of knots in the haul line so if one were to fall, he can pull on one line to have the pack drop to him on the ground. Over the last month there have been a number of deaths and permanent injuries as a result of not using a fall restraint system. Will Jenkins has started a campaign titled Harnesses for Hunters in which safety harnesses can be donated to hunters who may need one but cannot afford to purchase one. If you would like to donate a harness, or if you are in need of a harness, you can enroll in the Harnesses for Hunters program at TheWillToHunt.com at no charge. Bill Howard is a Hunter Education and a Bowhunter Education Instructor, a wildlife representative and the BCRS program chairman for the North Carolina Bowhunters Association, and an avid outdoorsman. He can be reached at billhoward outdoors@gmail. com.
State tests fishing line collection The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has launched a pilot program to make proper disposal of used fishing line easier and more convenient for anglers. The commission’s new fishing line recycling program in the Fayetteville area encourages anglers to recycle their used fishing line by placing collection bins in high-traffic areas at public fishing areas. The bins, which are constructed of plastic PVC pipes, are attached to posts located near fishing areas and on piers. Signs attached to the bins provide instructions on how to dispose of the monofilament line properly. The line will be collected, packaged and shipped to Berkley, a fishing tackle company that will reuse the line to build fish habitat structures. The commission will evaluate the recycling containers at different types of commission-supported fishing venues. Commission staff is monitoring this program through November 2012 and is developing guidelines specific for each type of fishing site. The commission’s goal is to install recycling bins at commission-owned public fishing areas, education centers, Community Fishing Program sites and fish hatcheries across the state. “Improperly discarded fishing line wreaks havoc on our aquatic wildlife and the environment, not to mention all the damage it does to boat motors when it gets caught in propellers,” said Kristopher Smith, director at the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center. “We hope that providing anglers with a convenient place to throw away their used fishing line will help promote good aquatic stewardship and keep our waterways clean.” During the evaluation period, the commission is seeking volunteer groups to develop partnerships for developing future sites and providing manpower to empty the bins on a monthly basis and shipping the line to Berkley for recycling. Interested volunteers can contact Smith at 910-868-5003, ext. 14, or email, kris.smith@ ncwildlife.org.
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Mayland Schedule of Classes for Yancey Usui Reiki Certification Class Level I (7 Hours) Learn the history and philosophy of Usui Reiki, how to balance your seven chakras (energy centers), and how to clear and ground energy. At the end of this class, you will be able to use the techniques you have learned to treat yourself and others. Class is limited to 20 participants. Class is January 7, from 9:30 AM-4:30 PM at Mayland Community College’s Yancey Campus. For more information visit www.mayland.edu and click on the Continuing Education link or call 682-7315. Usui Reiki Certification Class Level II (7 Hours) Gain a deeper connection to Reiki Energy, and receive a powerful attunement that will allow you to use the symbols of the Reiki System to channel healing energy to yourself and others, both in person and from a distance. Learn techniques to aid in dissolving the mental and emotional cause of illnesses. Prerequisite for this class is proof of certification of Reiki 1. Class is January 8, from 9:30 AM-4:30 PM at Mayland Community College’s Yancey Campus. For more information visit www.mayland.edu and click on the Continuing Education link or call 682-7315.
American Idol to play State Fair “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery will perform at the 2012 N.C. State Fair on Monday, Oct. 15. Tickets will go on sale on Monday, Dec. 5, in time for holiday shopping. “It may be a little early to be thinking about next year’s fair, but we think Scotty tickets will make the perfect gift for country music lovers on your shopping list,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We’re excited to have our hometown winner perform at the State Fair next year.” McCreery is from Garner and won the 2011 season of “American Idol.” His first CD, “Clear As Day,” has produced the hits “Love You This Big” and “The Trouble with Girls.” Tickets for the 2012 show will go on sale at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 5, at ncstatefair.org. Tickets are $25. There will be a six-ticket limit per buyer. Ticket buyers will also have the option to purchase gate admission tickets for the 2012 N.C. State Fair at the time of purchase, as concert tickets do not include fair admission. The 2012 N.C. State Fair will be held Oct. 11-21. The rest of the concert lineup will be announced in the summer.
The Yancey County News does not charge to publish birth announcements.
in-depth information on file and folder structure, email, software installation, customizing the look of the computer as well as protecting the computer from viruses, malware, etc. Class begins January 12, at 1 PM at Mayland Community College’s Yancey Campus. For more information visit www.mayland.edu and click on the Continuing Education link or call 682-7315. Windows 7 (24 Hours) Learn the file and folder structure of Windows and how to protect your computer from malware and viruses. Topics also include maintaining your system and installing and uninstalling software. Learn to customize the look of your computer with themes, screensavers, and desktop modifications. Class begins January 12, at 9 AM at Mayland Community College’s Yancey Campus. For more information visit www.mayland.edu and click on the Continuing Education link or call 682-7315.
Massage for Feet and Hands (12 Hours) Learn how to give a relaxing and stress relieving massage for hard working hands and feet. This course includes an introduction to reflexology for self-care, making your own aromatherapy salt scrub for a luxurious foot spa at home and Phlebotomy (210 Hours) Program content includes; communication more. Taught by Louise Devine Loveland, skills when working with patients, selection of massage and bodywork practitioner since 1988. venipuncture sites, care of blood specimens, Class begins January 17, at 6 PM at Mayland record keeping, and equipment maintenance. Community College’s Yancey Campus. For more High school diploma or GED is required. You information visit www.mayland.edu and click on must be at least 18 years of age. Ten days of the Continuing Education link or call 682-7315. clinical rotations will be scheduled in addition to dates for the classes listed below. Clinical sites Intro to Google Docs (22.5 Hours) may require drug testing and background checks. NEW! Dive into the exciting world of Google Students in this class may be eligible for Project Docs to gain marketable skills and experience in Skill-Up scholarship funds. Class begins January both personal and business environments. With 9, at 6 PM at Mayland Community College’s just an internet connection and a browser, Google Yancey Campus. For more information visit Docs enables you to create different types of www.mayland.edu and click on the Continuing documents, easily share and make changes to them in real-time with others, and store them online Education link or call 682-7315. all for free! No class 2/14. Class begins January 17, at 6 PM at Mayland Community College’s Ceramic Perspective Classes are held at Yancey Center for Ceramic Art Yancey Campus. For more information visit (YCCA). Please call 682-7315 for information. www.mayland.edu and click on the Continuing Additional fees to be paid to YCCA on the first day Education link or call 682-7315. of class include: $45 Lab fee, $20 Firing fee, Clay fee $14 per 25 lbs, optional Tool Kit $18.50. Learn Cake Decorating Basics (22.5 Hours) about work of different potters and their unique Learn to bake and shape cakes, plus make perspectives on clay. By studying the work of buttercream icing, then use tools such as bags, others, students will discover diverse approaches couplers, and tips to decorate. Techniques will to clay. These students can then integrate what include creating leaves, pompom flowers, piping they learn into creating their work. Class projects gel pattern transfer, as well as various border and are focused on developing a personal style based flower designs and dimensional decorating. A on discussions of artists’ work and techniques. supply list is given to students at the first meeting Some clay experience helpful. No class 1/16. of class. Cakes will be baked at home and brought Class begins January 9, at 9 AM at Mayland to class for decorating. Class begins January Community College’s Yancey Campus. For more 17, at 6 PM at Mayland Community College’s information visit www.mayland.edu and click on Yancey Campus. For more information visit the Continuing Education link or call 682-7315. www.mayland.edu and click on the Continuing Education link or call 682-7315. Certified Nursing Assistant I (160 Hours) This state-required course for those wishing to Massage (24 Hours) become a CNA consists of classroom work, lab, Learn therapeutic massage techniques that can be and clinical rotations. At the end of the course a used to enhance skills for personal or professional separate State approved agency administers the use. The course is especially recommended for competency testing for a fee of $101. Six days personal use with family members or for health of clinical rotation will be scheduled starting as care workers in a supervised setting (Occupational early as 6:30am. Some Saturday class and lab Therapist, Nurses and Nursing Assistants) participation may also be required. Random drug employed in a hospital, nursing home or outpatient screening and criminal background checks may clinic. be required by the clinical sites. Hours could vary slightly depending upon instructional need. Students in this class may be eligible for Project Skill-Up scholarship funds. Class begins January 10, at 5:30 PM at Mayland Community College’s Yancey Campus. For more information visit www.mayland.edu and click on the Continuing Education link or call 682-7315. Computer Basics II (24 Hours) Expand on basic PC knowledge. Review text editing and formatting techniques. Gain more
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CLASSIFIEDS TO BUY
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County moving forward with agriculture center Yancey County commissioners gave approval Wednesday for representatives to negotiate for a two-year lease for the old apple packing plant near West Church Road for a new agriculture processing center. The site would be used to help local farmers meet the needs of markets and retailers. In other business, the board approved budget amendments and approved a resolution for Mayland Community College to acknowledge the county’s 5 percent reduction in funding for the college. The board also heard from Randy Hall, who told them that the camping season at the county campground at South Toe was successful and that campers and others were complimentary of improvements made earlier this year, including sewer upgrades, installation of a security gate, and the creation of a ‘no-alcohol’ rule. The board heard from Mayland president John Boyd about a planned new certified welding program at the Yancey campus and how budget cuts have been addressed.
YHS Pet Press Wildflower is a strikingly beautiful adult spayed female cat. She is a good mouser and loves people!
Lucky is an adult neutered male Walker Hound is active and fun. He loves being in the house and jogs in the park. A fenced yard would be best. Barney is a large adult neutered male cat. He is a beautiful black tabby on white. He loves to cuddle and he is really sweet.
Freckles is 9-10 month old neutered male Australian Shepherd mix. He is somewhat shy at first, so he needs patience and love.
Call the shelter at 682-9510 for more information on these or other pets, or plan to visit us at 962 Cane River School Road.
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Family
Too much pressure by well-intentioned adults? By John Rosemond Q: Our 15-year- old daughter has said three times over the Living past two years that she wants to play on the traveling soccer with team. The coaches have actually asked her to play, meaning children she doesn’t have to try out. She will say she wants to do it and then at the thought that these kids have very last minute she gets upset, little if any discretionary time, refuses to sign up, or says she and that’s been verified by feels too sick to go. This is parents who dropped out of the very frustrating for us. Do you traveling and put family back in think it is anxiety? She had first place in their lives. I will also mention that a good some problems with that in preschool and first grade. Or do we number of college coaches have just have a very spoiled child told me that a good number on our hands? Should we insist of the kids who play on these that she honor what she tells the teams get to college and either don’t want to play anymore or coaches shes going to do? A: I have no idea what the believe themselves to be sports problem is. After all, I don’t heroes and are very difficult to know your daughter or you. coach. I don’t think spending Nonetheless, being the brilliant a significant amount of ones parenting guru that I am, I will childhood on a traveling team is healthy for child or family, but give this my best guess. Starting with the fact that then I’m one of the few men in your daughter is 16 years old, the USA who cares absolutely I would guess that she has nothing about sports. I think several welldeveloped other interests that intentioned adults are putting are more important to her than playing soccer. Foremost a good amount of pressure on among these is her social life. your daughter to do something The time she would have to she no longer wants to do, and spend committed to a traveling she doesn’t want to disappoint soccer team would take away them. My recommendation to from the time she wants to these well-intentioned adults spend doing things with her is to back off and let this young friends (Ill also bet that none lady begin taking control of her of her close friends are on the own life. Q: Our 28-month-old has team). Shes concerned that if she begins declining invitations recently started telling us to from them, they will effectively Stop saying that to me when we forget about her. They will give her instructions. She uses a stop calling her, and she will sassy voice, and sometimes she miss out on the exciting things yells it. Thus far, I’ve sent her to her room when she yells but they’re doing. So, she tells the coach (and have ignored the rest. It seems you) what he (and you) wants to be getting worse, however, to hear, but then, when the time although she is doing what we comes to fish or cut bait, she tell her to do. I feel like we’re cuts bait. I don’t think this has getting stuck. Do you have any anything to do with an anxiety suggestions? A: If she’s obeying you, then problem, but I do think she may I strongly recommend that you have some legitimate anxieties continue to ignore the sassiness. concerning the consequences At her age, this is nothing more of being on a traveling soccer than a rather typical (for toddlers) team at age 16. Quite a few research project. Call it a test that parents have told me that you are most definitely passing. these traveling teams almost You are maintaining a firm grip completely dominate the life on your authority and not letting of a family. The hotels my wife her throw you off balance. If you and I frequently stay in are continue in this vein, this little full of these traveling teams experiment will die a natural death (and their traveling parents within a few months. Family psychologist John and siblings) on Friday and Saturday nights. I’ve often Rosemond answers’ questions at rosemond.com.
Naomi Hoydal of Blue Bell Farms
New Business: Blue Bell Farms Blue Bell Farms is located at 127 West Main Street, Burnsville. The phone number is 678-3526. What: Build your own Affordable Gift Baskets! Choose your own basket, purchased from the many charitable organizations located in our surrounding areas, or choose your own coffee mugs to start. For a low price of $3/basket, choose items from locally crafted vendors, or from any downtown business (must provide receipt as proof of purchase) and we will dress your basket or coffee mug into a beautifully decorated Gift Basket. They also have a room especially dedicated to the newest
addition to any family and will monogram your purchase. Local crafters will also be selling their wares at affordable prices and each vendor has their own special story. Owned and operated by sisters Naomi Hoydal and Carol Goode, their goal is to help keep the money in Yancey County and provide a space for local crafters to maintain 100 percent of their profits. Blue Bell Farms opened Nov. 25. They invite you to please stop by and welcome Burnsville’s newest unique gift shop. Hours will be Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Annual Winterfest Non-Profit day at Burnsville Town Center is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents and businesses are invited to join the following non-profit organizations to display your goods and services: Beacon of the Hill Church – Women Helping Other Women – Sacred Heart Ladies Guild – Yancey County Humane Society – Knights of Columbus Council #12233 – Messiah of the Mountain Lutheran Church – U-Turn Ministries – Saint Andrews Ladies Guild – Appalachian Therapeutic Riding Center. Space is limited and there is no charge for your table or set up. Call Kathleen Holstein at 682-7477 to reserve your space or for additional information.
14
Dec. 1, 2011
• yANCEY cOUNTY nEWS
You’ve been paying too much for too long! If you are tasked with the job of being the executor for the estate of a loved one, please realize that the legally required notice that must run in the newspaper can be run in the
Yancey County News For MUCH LESS money! Save the money, and support the only locally owned newspaper in Yancey County! We are not owned by an out-of-state businessman. We are locally owned, and we are TOTALLY qualified to run your Creditor’s Notices. Just remember to ask the clerk of court for details on how to spend less money in your time of sorrow.
Take care of your car and it will take care of you! Allen Teague’s Auto Repair & Radiator Service. Radiators, Brakes, Transmission flush. Complete automotive maintenance and repair. “Service is our Business.” 5865 Hwy. 80 S – just past South Toe VFD. 675-0876 – 32 years experience. Reliable & Trustworthy.
Dec. 1, 2011
• yANCEY cOUNTY nEWS 15
What’stoeatattheelementaryschools? Friday, Dec 2
Monday, Dec 5
Tues Dec 6
Wed Dec 7
Thurs Dec 8
Friday, Dec 9
Breakfast Scrambled Eggs/ Toast Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk Lunch Sloppy Joe San’wich/ Cheese Quesadilla/ Sunbut’r w/ Jelly San’wich/ CaliVeggies/Pinto Beans/Peaches/Pears/ Milk
Breakfast Biscuit w/Jelly Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk
Breakfast Waffles Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk
Breakfast Sausage Biscuit Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk
Lunch SW Chix Nachos/ Mini Corn Dogs/ Sunbut’r w/jelly San’wich/Carrot Stix/B.Beans/B Berry Apple Crisp/Fruit CocktailMilk
Lunch Turkey Pie/Chix Biscuits/Sunbut’R w/jelly San’wich/ Potato Rounds/Green Beans/Baked Apples/ Peaches Milk
Lunch Salisbury Steak/ Chix Nuggets/Roll/ Sunbut’r w/Jelly San’wich/Mashed Potatoes/Peas/ Applesauce/Pears Milk
Breakfast Chix Biscuit Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk Lunch Spaghetti/Roll/ Pepperoni Pizza/ Sunbutter w/Jelly San’wich/Salad/ Corn/Fruit/Fruit Cocktail Milk
Breakfast Breakfast Pizza Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk Lunch Beef Tacos/Fish Nuggets/Cornbread/ Sunbut’r w/Jelly San’wich/Salad/Pinto Beans/Pineapple Bits/Mandarin Oranges/Milk
Food for thought for middle school Friday, Dec 2 Breakfast Chix Biscuit/Biscuit w/Jelly Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk Lunch Sloppy Joe San’wich/ Cheese Quesadilla/ Stuff’d Crust Pizza/ CaliVeggies/Pinto Beans/Peaches/Pears/ Milk
Monday, Dec 5
Tuesday, Dec 6
Wed., Dec 7
Thurs., Nov Dec 8
Friday, Dec 9
Breakfast Biscuit w/Jelly/Chix Biscuit Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk
Breakfast Sausage Biscuit Waffles Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk
Breakfast Breakfast Pizza/ Sausage Biscuit Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk
Breakfast Pancakes Chix Biscuit Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk
Breakfast Pancake&Sausage Stix/Breakfast Pizza Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk
Lunch SW Chix Nachos/ Mini Corn Dogs/ Stuffed Crust Pizza/ Carrot Stix/B. Beans/B Berry Apple Crisp/Fruit CocktailMilk
Lunch Turkey Pie/Chix Biscuits/Stuffed Crust Pizza/Potato Rounds/Green Beans/Baked Apples/ Peaches Milk
Lunch Salisbury Steak/Chix Nuggets/Roll/Mega Chix Quesadilla/ Mashed Potatoes/ Peas/Applesauce/ Pears Milk
Lunch Spaghetti/Roll/ Pepperoni Pizza/ Chix Fingers/Salad/ Corn/Fruit/Fruit Cocktail Milk
Lunch Beef Tacos/Fish Nuggets/Cornbread/ Chix Quesadillas/ Salad/Pinto Beans/ Pineapple Bits/ Mandarin Oranges/ Milk
Chowing down at Mountain Heritage Friday, Dec 2
Monday, Dec 5
Tuesday, Dec 6
Wed., Dec 7
Thurs., Dec 8
Friday, Dec 9
Breakfast Chix Biscuit/Biscuit w/Jelly Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk
Breakfast Biscuit w/Jelly/Chix Biscuit Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk
Breakfast Sausage Biscuit Waffles Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk
Breakfast Breakfast Pizza/ Sausage Biscuit Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk
Breakfast Pancakes Chix Biscuit Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk
Breakfast Pancake&Sausage Stix/Breakfast Pizza Cereal Animal Crackers Juice/Fruit/Milk
Lunch Sloppy Joe San’wich/ Cheese Quesadilla/ Stuff’d Crust Pizza/ CaliVeggies/Pinto Beans/Peaches/Pears/ Milk
Lunch SW Chix Nachos/ Mini Corn Dogs/ Stuffed Crust Pizza/ Carrot Stix/B. Beans/B Berry Apple Crisp/Fruit CocktailMilk
Lunch Turkey Pie/Chix Biscuits/Stuffed Crust Pizza/Potato Rounds/Green Beans/Baked Apples/ Peaches Milk
Lunch Salisbury Steak/Chix Nuggets/Roll/Mega Chix Quesadilla/ Mashed Potatoes/ Peas/Applesauce/ Pears Milk
Lunch Spaghetti/Roll/ Pepperoni Pizza/ Chix Fingers/Salad/ Corn/Fruit/Fruit Cocktail Milk
Lunch Beef Tacos/Fish Nuggets/Cornbread/ Chix Quesadillas/ Salad/Pinto Beans/ Pineapple Bits/ Mandarin Oranges/ Milk
Teachers and principals! Share your good news here, for all to see! Email school news to Jonathan@yanceycountynews.com $ Wanted to Buy $ JUNK VEHICLES
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16 Dec. 1, 2011 • yANCEY cOUNTY nEWS
This elegant light display catches the eye between Burnsville and Madison Mountain. Take photos of some of the best Christmas light displays you see and email them to us!
State report says Christmas tree crop is excellent North Carolina Christmas tree farmers are gearing up for a busy month. Choose and cut operations will open this weekend across the western part of the state for consumers hoping to find the perfect Christmas tree. For weeks, growers have already been harvesting and preparing trees for shipment across the country for sale at home
improvement centers, grocery stores and other retail locations. “We’ve had a good growing season and consumers will find a good, healthy selection and wide variety of sizes which to choose from,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. The Fraser fir is the dominant Christmas tree produced in North Carolina,
where the elevation and climate in western counties create perfect growing conditions for the crop. North Carolina growers also produce Concolor fir, blue spruce, red cedar, Leyland cypress, Carolina Saphire and Blue Ice Arizona cypress and white pine trees. For a list of choose and cut farms in North Carolina, visit ncfarmfresh.com.
Celo Trails
Christmas tree facts: • North Carolina ranks second in the nation in Christmas tree production. • More than 5 million Christmas trees are harvested annually. • In 2010, Christmas tree cash receipts generated $85 million for the state’s economy. • There are more than 1,000 Christmas tree growers in the state, with
farms ranging from 1/10 of an acre to more than 1,000 acres. • N.C. Christmas tree growers have committed to donate more than 1,000 trees to the Trees for Troops program. Trees will be delivered to families stationed at Marine Corp Air Station New River, Camp LeJeune, Fort Story in Virginia, and Fort Bliss. in Texas.
D
o you dream of a private Celo vacation site near some of the best riding trails in the country? A place where a horse is the preferred mode of transportation? A place with a community barn, paddock, and grazing space just steps from your door? Do you seek life lived harmoniously with the land amid the stunning landscape and breathtaking views of the Black Bros. range?
Make the dream a reality at Celo Trails, a development of homesites situated amongst generations-old laurel and hardwoods just an amble away from the South Toe River and its pristine trout waters. Each property is defined not by a surveyor’s grid but by nature. Trails tie the sites together for afternoon rides and socializing, with easy access to the stable, paddock, and managed grazing space. Priced from the mid-50s. Email: Info@celotrails.com Electric service available • ample well and septic options • planned access for horse trailers • builder recommendations • deed restrictions